Halton stroke survivors have been getting creative during Make May Purple, with a range of purple flower sculptures, to celebrate the Stroke Association’s national awareness month. The Stroke Association is calling on everyone to ‘go purple’ this May to help raise vital funds and to show support for people who have been affected by stroke.

On Monday 15th May six stroke survivors and carers took part in a LifewithArt workshop in the LwA Widnes Charity Arts Centre. Led by arts tutor Faith Bebbington the participants used newspaper, wire and coloured tape to make individual petal shapes which were then decorated. The petals were bound together on wire stems to make beautiful flower sculptures.

Alison Gilfoyle, Information Advice and Support Coordinator at the Stroke Association, said:

To celebrate Make May Purple we gave the LifewithArt team a brief of producing something purple, possibly involving flowers, and after much discussion we decided to create irises. The workshop with Faith was fantastic; all of the participants thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the opportunity to craft something colourful and creative.

This year we’re also calling on the local community to get involved in Make May Purple. Whether you choose to hold a bake sale, take part in an event or get sponsored to dye your hair, there are so many easy ways to show your support. Across the UK more than a million people are rebuilding their lives after stroke. By supporting Make May Purple you can help us to make sure stroke gets the attention it deserves and to raise vital funds for innovative research into stroke care and treatment.

The Stroke Association is a charity that work directly with stroke survivors, their families and carers, as well as with health and social care professional, scientists and researchers. The charity believe in life after stroke – campaigning to improve stroke care and to support people to make the best recovery they can. At LifewithArt we thoroughly enjoyed working with the Stroke Association on this project and doing our bit to Make May Purple!